The National Museum of Ireland is pleased to announce the acquisition of an important mid-15th century copper alloy altar cross from Co Waterford.

The National Museum of Ireland is very grateful to the Madden family for their generous donation of the cross on behalf of their late mother, Mrs. Bridget Madden (née Kelly) of Ferrybank, Waterford. The cross had been in the possession of Mrs Madden’s family for several generations, probably at Corbally, near Dunmore East, Co Waterford.

The exact provenance of the cross is unknown. It may have been used in a local parish church or monastery. It is one of about a dozen later medieval period altar crosses known from Ireland. Such crosses were made in England in the 15th and 16th centuries and are found throughout western Europe.

The new altar cross will be on display on the first floor at the National Museum of Ireland -Archaeology, Kildare Street from Tuesday, 26 March 2013.